Instagram Shooting Threat Prompts Extra Security At South Loop High School

By Mae Rice in News on May 9, 2016 4:53PM

Photo via Jaysin Trevino on Flickr

Jones College Prep had heightened security on its Printer's Row campus Monday after a Sunday Instagram post threatened a Monday shooting at the selective enrollment high school. Police do not believe the threat is "valid," according to a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department, but they nevertheless have "additional resources from the First District deployed at and around the school."

The threat, which has appeared on every social media channel, began on Instagram (on a now-deleted account). Its caption, which begins "Tomorrow is my rapture" and includes statements such as "I like to kill," was paired with a photo of a gun.

The post is shown here:

The administration at the school is "aware" of the post, according to a recent statement from the school. The statement reads, in part:

[T]he school will have additional security starting Monday (5/9), and are urging everyone to come to school as normal. Students and parents are encouraged to anticipate a longer check-in at the beginning of the day.

CBS reporter Mike Puccinelli tweeted a photo of that check-in in progress, showing students lined up to go through metal detectors this morning:

The police investigation into who made the threat is ongoing.